A performance of Ed Sheeran's 'I See Fire' has catapulted Siobhan McGrath from anonymity to centre stage at Skyfire tomorrow night.
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The Yass High School captain will open for international performing artist Timomatic after winning Skyfire's Got Talent last week.
She was shortlisted for the competition final from hundreds of other entrants after she sent in a video of her covering the chart-topping hit.
The 17-year-old local, who has been performing for the last three years, then prevailed in the final-five showdown of the 104.7 competition to earn a 20-minute set at the fireworks event.
"It's scary thinking about how many people will be there but it will be an awesome experience, seeing as the biggest crowds I've performed in front of would be 500 people at a school event," Siobhan told the Tribune this week.
"It's an opportunity for people to get to know me and hopefully they enjoy it and follow me."
The 'I See Fire' clip must have impressed the judges, including radio hosts 'Scotty and Nige', because her name was broadcast live on radio as one of the finalists selected to compete at Westfield Belconnen last Friday.
"There was no way I was going to get called out. I got up to listen to the announcement that morning but only to find out who got picked," Siobhan said.
"Mum [Victoria] didn't even get up for it," she laughed.
"But as soon as my name was read out I didn't listen to the others, I just ran down to mum's room and woke her up... she was stoked."
After the radio announcement Siobhan was even more surprised to have made the finals because it was the first time she realised that it wasn't just a singing competition. She would also be up against gymnasts and dancers at the Westfield showdown.
She left school last Friday having decided she would sing the track that got her to the finals in the first place.
"Yeah it was always going to be 'I See Fire' then for some reason I changed my mind," she revealed.
"When I got home I just decided I wanted to sing 'Break Even' instead and my sister [Cait] said she preferred it too and it showed more range.
"So I practised it three times that afternoon."
The late change of song didn't worry the confident teen, who followed her mum's instructions and treated it like any other performance.
"It was pretty intimidating because I stalked [looked them up online] the people I was up against and they were all really good. One group was even asked for an autograph before we performed."
But in front of the radio hosts, last year's winner Max O'Sullivan and hundreds of onlookers, Siobhan coolly sung her cover of The Script hit and was greeted with deafening applause.
Despite being happy with her performance, Siobhan was stunned by the result.
"When the judges named the winner I was just looking around waiting for someone to step forward, and then I was pushed forward by someone from the dance troupe.
"I had already embraced the fact that I'd lose and I just tried to enjoy the performance. So I was totally shocked when it finally sunk in that I'd won."
She says she is not one to be overawed by a situation but she will need every ounce of composure tomorrow night when she walks out on stage at 7.10pm. She is slated to sing five songs including an original. The only problem is Siobhan hadn't written a suitable original piece when the Tribune spoke to her on Wednesday.
"I haven't finished one that I can use yet," she laughed.
"But I should have one ready for the night."
Siobhan doesn't want to divulge her likely song list for the firework extravaganza, mostly because she wants to take all the time she can to deliberate.
One thing of which she is sure is that the whole ride has been a blast and she isn't going to take the celebrity treatment for granted.
"Friday I get to go see my 'personal stylist', which is part of the winning prize, and then on Saturday I'll be meeting Timomatic and singing at Skyfire. It's just crazy," she beamed.
To whet your appetite for Siobhan's performance at Skyfire check out her Facebook page, Siobhan McGrath Music, or visit www.youtube.com/siobhanmcgrath.